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THEORY 



OF TEE 



BASE-BUMIM STOYE 



AND THE 



u 



ORIGIN OF THE 



MORNING GLORY." 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year of our Lord 1870, 

By D. G. LITTLEFIELD, 

In the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. 



ALBANY, K Y : 



9 PUBLISHED BY THE LITTLEFIELD STOVE MANUFACTUEING CO. f 

T$l£> 1870. £$ 



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THEORY 



OF THE 



BASE-BURNING STOYE 



AND THE 



ORI&IN OF THE 



"MORNING GLORY." 






Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year of our Lord 1870, 

By D. G. LITTLEFIELD, 

In the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. 



» • « 



/ 

ALBANY, 1ST. Y : 

PUBLISHED BY THE LITTLEFIELD STOYE MANUFACTURING CO. 

1870. 



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X 



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BUFFALO: 
PKINTING HOUSE OF MATTHEWS & WARREN, 

Office of the "Buffalo Commercial Advertiser." 
1870. 



IJVTB OD TJCTION. 



Several reasons have led to the publication of this pamphlet, 
the most important of which may be briefly stated as follows : 

1. It is due to the public that the facts herein set forth 
should be fully made known to all interested in the truth. 

2. It has become necessary that a full and correct history 
of the Base-Burning Stove should be given to the world, em- 
bodying a clear description of my several inventions combined 
in that stove. 

S. It is due to my present business associates that all should 
know that their purpose when befriending me, and joining ivith 
me in the manufacture of my inventions, was not, as my oppo- 
nents and rivals endeavor to make the public believe, to trample 
upon the rights of others or to aid me in doing so. 

If.. It is due to the patrons of the " Littlefield Stove 
Manufacturing Company" that they should have conclu- 
sive evidence that their confidence has not been misplaced. 

5. Finally, it is due to myself that I should justify the 
sweeping statements I have heretofore written and published, 
in order to protect the interest of those with whom I was asso- 
ciated. 

The facts and descriptions, therefore, necessary for these pur- 
poses, are fully set forth in the folloioing pages. In placing 
the facts before the public, I have endeavored to state the truth 
as clearly and simply as possible, so that all toho peruse this book 
loill understand my object, and derive substantial benefit there- 
from. 

D. G. LITTLEFIELD, 

Patentee. 
Albany, K F, 1870. 



THEORY 



OF THE 



BASE-BURNING STOYE 



AOT ORIGIN OF THE 



Morning Glory. 



Prior to 1853, the term "Base-Burning" was unknown; "Magazine" 
stoves, however, had "been in use long before that time, but to a limited 
extent only; and though regarded as scientific stoves, as distinguished 
from Surface-burners, they had evidently found but little favor with the 
public. The reason undoubtedly was that the great mass of people were 
never scientific in such matters. 

The masses probably never will become scientific in matters of this 
character. The subject is too intricate to be clearly understood by those 
not making it a specialty ; and, therefore, a scientific machine, to be of 
substantial benefit to the great mass of people, must have a perfect or- 
ganization, and be so simple in its construction that, when put in opera- 
tion, it will do its work correctly, without reference to the skill of the 
party called upon to use it. 

To effect this has been my constant study since the year 1853, and the 
whole object of my inventions, or improvements, has been to produce 
such a stove. 

When turning my attention to this subject I found the common " Sur- 
face-burner" to be the stove universally used in this country. The 
" Magazine " stove had been laid aside as a thing of the past. The minds 
of the people appeared to be made up on this subject, and they had 




settled into the conviction that the only stove 
suitable for the masses was the unscientific 
" Surface-Burner." . 

It seemed to me that this ought not to be, 
and would not have been, the case, except for 
some radical defect in the construction of this 
so-called " scientific " stove. 

A surface-burning stove is one that must 
ignite the whole of the fuel it contains in order 
to develop its heating power. While reflect- 
ing and radiating its heat upwardly it depends 
more for its power upon the quantity of fuel 
subjected to combustion than upon the rapidity 
of its consumption. 

This method of operation was never re- 
garded as in accordance with the correct 
A Surface-Burner, theory ; for the obvious reason that the volatile 

combustible was free to run away from the friendly oxygen (air), admitted 
at the base, which would combine with and develop its heat-giving power 
if it could only be detained a moment at a burning point ; but, passing as 
soon as generated to the upper region of the stove, where it was cooled, 
its concealed heat could not be developed, but was carried to the house- 
top and wasted. 

The correct method of burning any compact fuel that contains but little 
hydrogen, is to heat it before it reaches the place of combustion, and 
thereby give it an affinity for oxygen. 

This method is particularly advantageous with anthracite coal, for the 
reason that it contains but little hydrogen, and but little if any oxygen, in 
its formation. It must find the elements necessary to combustion in the 
surrounding atmosphere; to heat this fuel, therefore, before bringing it to 
the place of combustion must facilitate the operation. 

This fact has been well known to the scientific world for many years. 
It has also been as well known that the most perfect method of burning 
any fuel is one by which the combustible must meet the supporter of 
combustion inversely, and permit the products to pass of sidewise to a 
space never to be filled. 

The " Magazine" stove was intended to do this. It was constructed 
many years ago upon that principle ; but, as before stated, it found but 
little favor with the public. And why not? This is a proper subject 
of inquiry. 

It was undoubtedly the case that "Magazine" stoves had a fair trial 
many years ago ; and, as then constructed, they were condemned as un- 
suitable to the requirements of the masses; but history does not state 
the reason for their failure, and it can only be known therefore by conjec- 
ture. That there was a protracted conflict between the two systems is 




A Magazine Stove, 
principle has long been 



evidenced by the fact that the late Dr. Nott 
took sides with and attempted to give value to 
this so-called "scientific" stove; but, as he re- 
tained in his stoves the defective organization of 
the former " Magazine " stoves, they shared the 
same fate. 

It will be observed that unlike the Surface- 
burner, the " Magazine " stove did not depend for 
its heating power upon the quantity of fuel it con- 
tained, but upon the rapidity with which the fuel 
was burned ; the magazine at all times contain- 
ing a supply of reserve fuel to be gradually heated 
as it should descend to the place of combustion, 
while its burning and heating capacity was in- 
tended to be controlled by increasing or dimin- 
ishing the amount of air passing in at the base. 

From this it will be seen that the " Magazine" 
the property of the public. History does not 
give the name of its inventor, or the year 
when it was invented. Some writers have 
stated that it was used by the Chinese more 
than two thousand years ago. As to the truth 
of this I cannot give an opinion, but I am able 
to state that, so far as my knowledge extends, 
no one, prior to the date of my improvements, 
thought it susceptible of further invention. 
Like a finished city it was supposed there was 
no more to be clone with it, except to keep it 
in repair, which was the purpose of Dr. Nott, 
or permit it to go to decay and ruin. And 
ruin it was, finally, at least so far as to the 
people of this country and its use in burning 
anthracite coal were concerned ; for it was al- 
most as little known to the great mass of the 
American people prior to 1853, notwithstand- 
ing the efforts of Dr. Nott, as though it had - 
never been invented. The Nott Stove. 

The great defect of the old " Magazine " stove is easily pointed out 
at this day ; but not so in 1853. Then, it could only be imagined that 
no air ought to have been permitted to pass into its magazine at the top, 
and that to prevent this its opening cover ought to have been sunk within , 
a chamber made vacuous by the action of the smoke-pipe and chimney. 
Now it is known, because it has been demonstrated, that air must not be 
permitted to pass in at the top of the magazine when the stove is in opera- 
tion; and that the only practical method by which this can be avoided 




is to enclose the cover opening thereto within a chamber that communi- 
cates Avith the fire-pot, and also with the exit flue and chimney. 

In 1853 it could only be imagined that herein lay the great defect of the 
former construction, or why it was that said stove had never gone into 
general use. Now it is known for a certainty, because it has been dem- 
onstrated that such was its great defect ; and this fully accounts for the 
anomaly that an unscientific method of burning coal was so generally 
adopted in preference to one known to be scientific. 

The former construction was faulty in that its action could not be con- 
trolled by the air supply at the base. Now that its organization has been 
perfected, it can be controlled by the air supply at the base. 

The former construction was simply a " Magazine " stove, intended to 
perform what it could not, owing to its imperfections. Now it is a " Base- 
Burning " stove, ever reliable, and ever certain to burn only at the base, 
as was the intention of the inventor of the first "Magazine" stove, but 
who failed to discover and remedy the defects of his invention. 

It will be apparent to the careful investigator that primarily the heating 
power ofa" Base-Burning " stove must depend upon the size of its maga- 
zine and its proper adjustment to the fire-pot; that these two elements 
should be so adapted to each other as to ignite but little coal compared 
with the quantity the magazine is to contain ; that the magazine should be 
so protected that air cannot enter it at the top when the stove is in opera- 
tion, thus enabling it to be filled with combustible matter (coal and gases 
generated therefrom), instead of coal and atmospheric air coming in from 
the top of the magazine, for if air is permitted to pass into the magazine 
when the stove is in operation, it will pass to the ignited fuel, and so sup- 
port combustion from that direction, and result in igniting the coal con- 
tained in the magazine, which will repeat the defect of the old construc- 
tion ; that the magazine and fire-pot should be so adapted to each other 
as to make it necessary to build and keep the fire below the magazine, so 
that as the coal at the base is consumed, that above will settle, — not out 
laterally and away from the burning point (the lower end of the maga- 
zine), but down, to supply the place of that which has been consumed. 

With such an organization, a fire may be started with the frost of 
autumn, and by supplying coal to the magazine and shaking down the 
ashes daily, continued throughout the winter, if a " Mill Grate " is em- 
ployed to grind up and pass to the ash-pit the refuse matter that cannot 
be burned. And if the lower end of the magazine, which is the most in- 
tensely heated part of the stove, and the burning point, is composed of 
fire-brick or other non-combustible material, the coal and all the gases it 
contains will be consumed and evolve all of its concealed heat, none be- 
ing wasted, a result which cannot be obtained unless all of these con- 
ditions are complied with. 

For the pupose of giving to the public the full benefit of my inventions 
and improvements in this class of stoves, I will specify, quoting from the 




Letters Patent, the improved organization and the parts of the present 
" Base-Burning " stove embodied in the " Morning Glory." 

My first application for Letters Patent for 
improvements of this character was filed in the 
patent office, July, 1853, and afterwards, dating 
from January 24, 1854, the following claims 
were patented. 

" The combination of a reserve fuel-supply- 
ing cylinder, a separate fire-pot, a chamber 
to receive the products of combustion, and an 
exhausting exit flue, substantially as, and for 
the purposes described." 

This claim was for a stove, however con- 
structed, which employed a magazine and fire- 
pot having a surrounding chamber, providing 
the surrounding chamber enclosed the cover 
opening to its magazine. This same construc- 
tion was also patented as follows : 

" The combination of a fire-pot constructed as described, with a fuel- 
supplying cylinder, which has its cover opening surrounded by a chamber 
which communicates with the outlet from the fire-pot, and also with the 
flue leading to the chimney, when the aggregate amount of outlet space 
from the fire-pot exceeds the amount of inlet through the grate at the 
base." 

The illuminating case was patented in the following claim. 

u I do not claim the intent to make an opening in the 
exterior case of the stove through which the operation of 
the fire can be seen ; but what I do claim as my invention, 
and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is the arrangement, 
adaptation and combination with a fuel supplying cylin- 
der stove, of an illuminating case to the chamber which 
receives light and the gaseous products of combustion 
from the burning fuel, substantially in the manner and for 
the purpose herein set forth." 

The outside cover of this stove which was the first mag- 
azine stove " cover" to open sidewise was secured by the 
following claim : 

"I do not broadly claim hinging a cover to the top 
plate of a stove, but what I do claim as my invention and desire to secure 
by Letters Patent, is the arrangement, adaptation, and combination with 
a fuel supplying stove, of a cover so hinged to the top plate of the stove, 
that it may be swung open on a horizontal plane." 

All of these improvements are now the property of the public, the term 
of the patent expiring in 1868, which is one reason for there being so 
many stoves in market claiming to be "Base-Burners," some of which 
1* 




employ these inventions, while others do not, but have brought forward 
the old " magazine" burner with its defective organization, adding my 
illuminated case of 1854, representing them as new and useful. 

Stoves as patented by the foregoing claims were manufactured by the 
"Pioneers"* at Albany, 1ST. Y., in 1853; and there are many who can 
well remember its partial failure. 

It is safe to say there was never a stove made at Albany, or elsewhere, 
so completely condemned by its manufacturers. It is true that some were 
of the opinion that they might answer as a " Summer Stove," others 
thought that they might serve as a " Refrigerator," while others again, 
influenced more or less by the timid manufacturers, said, and no doubt 
thought, that " the man who got them up had better retire from busi- 
ness." They were conceded by the manufacturers to be a superior coal 
burner, and peculiar in that they would do this and produce but little 
heat ; and so anxious were the " Pioneers " to have its failure known to 
everybody, that pamphlets printed in Massachusetts and brought with 
me to Albany to advertise these stoves in 1853, some of which are now 
in my possession, were written upon and circulated from the establish- 
ment of the "Pioneers," which stated upon their title-page that this 
stove was " the only apparatus ever constructed that would compel the 
perfect combustion of the inflammable gases of anthracite coal without heat" 

The "Pioneers" thus showed themselves to be a "smart" firm, by 
causing to be done more than the agreement called for. Perhaps this was 
intended as a kindness to my family, they thinking perhaps that it was 
my duty to labor to support them rather than fool my time away in the 
useless attempt to make valuable this class of stoves. 

Personalities are unpleasant, and in this work I would avoid them 
if I could ; but my inventions for the past ten years have been so rudely 
treated by these " Pioneers," that to notice them as above cannot well be 
avoided. 

This " Base-Burning " stove, my first attempt, was constructed wholly 
of iron ; its magazine being composed in part of cast, and in part of sheet 
iron, while its fire-pot was made of cast iron ; thus constructing the out- 
let therefrom, and the burning point, of cast iron, which should not have 
been the case. There were many other defects of construction, but this 
was the chief cause of the failure. 

Iron is a good conductor, and by this construction, heat was conducted 
away from the burning point, where it should have been retained suffi- 
ciently to consummate a complete combustion of the fuel ; but the lower 
end of the magazine being composed of iron, conducted the heat to other 
parts of the stove, aud thus lessened the ability of the magazine and fire- 
pot to act correctly ; resulting in the production of a stove having suffi- 



* Messrs. Treadwell and Perry, who were permitted as licensees, upon a royalty, to 
make these stoves in 1853. 



9 

cient power only to reduce the coal to ashes, but evolving but little heat. 
Hence the idea of the "Pioneers" that it was the only stove ever con- 
structed that would burn anthracite coal " without heat." 

The careful investigator will observe that the defect could have been 
readily obviated by the substitution of some non-conducting substance, in 
place of iron, in the construction of the outlet space from its fire-pot and 
magazine. 

The "Pioneers" became disheartened, and, coward-like, turned back, 
facing the "Star of the North" and other surface-burning stoves, un- 
known at this day, as promising more ready cash and profits; while the 
writer, compelled to make other arrangements, associated himself with 
other parties, and continued his efforts to perfect the "Base-Burning" 
stove. 

As a matter of policy, and from necessity, the peculiar construction of 
the " Pioneer" stove was abandoned for a time; but the stove next con- 
structed retained the same organization, so far as regarded the principle 
involved ; varying from the former so far only that the " chamber " sur- 
rounding its magazine and the cover opening thereto, was divided into a 
series of " chambers "; the series acting and serving as an equivalent for 
the single "chamber." This stove was known in the market as the 
" Eailway Coal Burner," and, as is well known, was the first " Base-Burn- 
ing" stove ever made that proved to be a success. The outlet space from 
its fire-pot and magazine, and which was the burning point, was con- 
structed of fire-brick or soap-stone; so made as to obviate the defect 
causing the failure of the former stove. In this stove I found a success, 
and, had the famous " Pioneers " been a little less cowardly, and, instead, 
possessed a little more confidence in the future, with the same efforts, a 
still greater success might have been achieved with the stove first made ; 
in which event the " Railway Coal Burner " would not have been pro- 
duced. 

I regret the necessity of reference to these self-styled " Pioneers," but it 
is due to the public that the acts of such marauders should be exposed. 
Besides, the information relating to the science of Base Burning, which 
this work is intended to give, cannot be sufficiently stated without refer- 
ence to them. Had their acts been just and proper, they would have re- 
ceived due credit; but, being highly improper and unjust to the public, as 
well as to myself, they must suffer the consequences. 

The "Railway Coal Burner," which was the only "Base-Burning" 
stove then in market, was sold extensively from 1856 to 1861, during 
which time the stove written of by the " Pioneers," its manufacturers, as 
being a " dead failure," was not forgotten, as, prior to 1860, my plans for 
re-constructing it were carefully considered and perfected, as I was de- 
termined that the next attempt should be a success, and a stove produced 
which would be valuable so long as anthracite coal was burned. 

Proceeding with caution, in 1859, I constructed a fire-pot which was 



10 




devised in 1853, to obviate the defect of the " Pioneer " stove. This fire- 
pot was tested in the stove of 1853, by using it in my own house during 
the winter of 1859 ; and by its satisfactory operation proved conclusively 
to my mind, that if the same had been done in 1854, and the stove put in 
market by manufacturers well established in the business, and who were, 
in fact, friendly to the stove, it would in one season have gained a popu- 
larity that has required years to establish. 

This invention was patented for seventeen years from the 25th June, 
1861, by the following claim : 

" What I claim as my invention and de- 
sire to secure by Letters Patent is, in the 
construction of the class of stoves which 
have a magazine for reserve coal, and an 
external case which surrounds the fire-pot, 
and encloses a space into which the pro- 
ducts of combustion pass sidewise through 
apertures in the fire-pot, the employment 
of soap stone, fire-brick, or other equivalent 
refractory or indestructible and slowly con- 
ducting material to compose that part of the 
fire-pot or burning chamber between or im- 
Fire-Pot. mediately around said apertures." 

After testing this invention I proceeded, in 1860 and 1861, to re-construct 
the stove of 1853, and produced three sizes, which were introduced to the 
trade in 1861, under the name and trade mark of the " Morning Glory." 

It will be observed that the stove, as made originally, had a perfect or- 
ganization so far as regarded the protection of its magazine ; and the fact 
that the " Morning Glory," its prototype in principle, was so popular, even 
from the start, is evidence of a feeling in the minds of the public in favor 
of the stove of 1853, and of the folly or wickedness of those who con- 
tributed to its unpopularity. The present pattern of the "Morning 
Glory" is nothing more nor less than the stove of 1853, with inventions 
and improvements, relating to these stoves as a class, added, which were 
produced after having obtained a better knowledge of the subject, and 
which would have been produced before, had circumstances permitted, 
in 1854, what was not done until 1860. 

Thus it will be seen that the production of the "Morning Glory" was 
simply to combine, in a practicable form, various correct principles of 
construction, some of which were devised as early as 1853, but not given 
to the public until 1861, and after it was safe to so construct this invalua- 
ble burner as to more perfectly adapt it to its original purpose. 

It was then assumed upon my seven years' practical experience with 
these stoves : — 

First. That the air-supplying grate at the bottom of the fire-pot ought 
to be so constructed as to allow the removal therefrom of the slate and 



11 

other incombustible substances which accumulate therein, without ex- 
tinguishing the fire. 

Second. That more direct and enlarged radiation from the burning 
coal would be highly beneficial, and might be accomplished by increasing 
the heating power, and by the more equal diffusion of heat through the 
surrounding chamber. 

Third. To the same end, and that more heat might be communicated 
to all parts of the surrounding chamber, the outer case required to be so 
constructed as to become more intensely heated, both by the direct radia- 
tion from the burning coal, and from the heat of combustion proceeding 
therefrom and diffusing itself over the interior surface of the case. 

Fourth. For the double purpose of securing a better outer illumination, 
and a more beneficial diffusion of the heat radiating from the outer sur- 
face of the case, it would be important to give to it such a form, and so 
to dispose the windows, that the light might be reflected upward, also, to 
a sufficient extent, horizontally, and that a portion of the heat from the 
lower part of the case should be reflected downward. 

Fifth. Coal-burners of this class, when in operation, generate and re- 
tain in their fuel-magazine highly inflammable mixtures, varying in quan- 
tity according to the quality of the coal and to the proportion of moisture 
it contains. The sudden intermixture of these gases with atmospheric 
air will cause explosions, and hence it becomes important, when the mag- 
azine is to be opened for the purpose of replenishing it, by some convenient 
arrangement, first to free it from such gasses. 

Sixth. The burner should be so constructed that when in operation no 
atmospheric air can enter the fuel-magazine ; and to this end some pro- 
vision is indispensable for carrying off, through the exit flue, any air that 
may find entrance at the top of the burner. 

Seventh. The burner should be so constructed that the hot products 
of combustion emitted from the fire-pot shall have room for immediate 
expansion ; that they shall be retained at the point of expansion long 
enough to part with a large share of their heat ; and that they shall then 
pass to a gradually contracting part of the chamber ; because, by this 
means, they will be made to impart an increased and more uniform de- 
gree of heat to the whole of the transmitting case. 

Eighth. For the purpose of giving to the burner the highest degree of 
efficiency, and of saving fuel, it should be so constructed that the hot pro- 
ducts of combustion may be forced into full contact with all parts of the 
surrounding case throughout its whole extent, including its front and its 
extreme upper and rear portions, and then be turned downward to the 
exit flue. 

Ninth. When used for warming the apartment in which it is placed, 
the burner should be so constructed as to transmit the largest share of its 
heat from the front, and a portion of it toward the floor of the apartment. 

Tenth. When to be used for the last mentioned purpose, the burner 



12 



should be so constructed that bits of coal accidentally dropped upon the 
floor, or any refuse matter, may be readily and conveniently got rid of by 
depositing them in the magazine; and for this purpose should be pro- 
vided with a sliding cover oyer the magazine, upon which, on opening 
the outer cover, such bits of coal or refuse matter may be thrown, and, 
after replacing the outer cover, be projected into the magazine by simply 
drawing the sliding cover. 

These various inventions, or improvements, all relating, to the same 
subject matter, were secured to me for seventeen years by Letters Patent, 
bearing date December 9th, 1862, in the following claims. 

First " The mill-grate, constructed 
and operating substantially as and for 
the purpose described." 

Second. " The flaring portion of 
the outer case (below the windows), 
in combination with the Fire-Pot," 
third. "The furnace (fire-pot), 
opening into and in combination with the 4^==, 
chamber (surrounding the magazine), and 
so constructed as to emit both 
light and heat from the burn- 
ing coal in an upward direc- 
tion." 

Fourth. " The compelling 
of the draught from the 
grate while the fire is kind- 
ling, and previous to and 
during the process of replen- 
ishing the magazine, to pass 
through the magazine for 
the purpose specified, by 
the means I have devised, 
devices." 






analogous 






s^ 


K 


~ \ 




rf—^ 




7"7— \ 




H. 


1 


7^ 


A 



5> 



mm 



Fifth. " The chamber (I) communicating with 
the (exit) flue, whereby air finding admission 
through the aperture over which rests the top 
cover, passes to the exit flue." 



Sixth. " The divided flue (K) around the (above) 

chamber and forming a communication between 

7"^[a the chamber (around the magazine) and the exit 

flue, whereby the products of combustion are 

drawn to the smoke pipe and chimney, and the 



heat rendered more effective by its proper diffusion within the burner." 



13 







Seventh. " The plate 
forming the top of the 
magazine, and projecting 
ont over it to the outer 
case, and having aperture 
M3 (0) at the front side, and 
another (U) into the exit 
flue." 

Eighth. " Such an ad- 
justment of parts of the 
magazine stove as will 
carry the whole volume 
of heated products of combustion to the 
front region of the stove, and thence to 
the rear part of it over the top of the 
magazine, in the manner I have described, 
or by any other analogous devices." 

Ninth. " The grate-like sliding (reser- 
voir) cover, in combination with the mag- 
zine." 

Tenth. " The inward deflection of the 
case, (the window section) in its relation to, and com- 
bination with, the furnace (fire-pot) and chamber " (sur- 
rounding the magazine). 

Eleventh. "The window openings in the outer case, 
in combination with the recession of the case." 



The first patterns of these stoves, those sold in 
1861-2, and a part of those sold in 1863, embodied 
the above mentioned inventions ; but desiring more 
heat from the base, in 1863 the interior construction 
was modified, and the improvements then produced 
— which are embodied in the present stove — were 
patented for seventeen years from August 18, 1863, 
by the following claims : 

" The magazine, constructed as described, in com- 
bination with the furnace (fire-pot) separated from it, 
and suspended within a chamber isolated from the 
chamber surrounding the maga- 1 
zine." I 

" The corresponding notches | 
or shoulders in the iron cylinder 
and the lining (of fire brick, which 



forms the burning point) as de- 
scribed, by means of which the lining is held in place, notwithstanding the 
greater expansion of the cylinder by heat, and without danerer therefrom." 



14 




" The combination of a magazine 
contracting in diameter from the mid- 
dle or other line downward to its lower 
end, with a furnace (fire-pot) suspended 
within a chamber isolated from the 
chamber surrounding the magazine." 

" The inter-communication to be 
opened and closed at pleasure, between 




E 




the chamber of a magazine coal-burner, 
which surrounds the fire-pot, and that which sur- 
rounds the magazine." 

"The devices described, by- 
means of which I am able to 
construct the upper and lower 
sections of the burner, each 
complete in itself, separately, 
and so to adjust them as to 
admit of their being conveni- 
ently separated and reunited 
without injury to either." 

With these improvements 
added, these stoves were made 
and sold during the years 1863, 1864 and 1865, when further improve- 
ments were added, which improvements were afterward patented for 
seventeen years from April 25, 1868, in the following claims : 

" The complete separation of the covered magazine 
from the sides of the surrounding case, and the devices 
described, whereby it is suspended and securely held in 
its proper position for use, while it may at pleasure be 
taken out of the case and again restored to its place with- 
out injury or disturbance of the case." 

" The adjustment, in 
the manner described, fi= 
of the handle of the cover of the magazine." 

" The reciprocal adaptation of the magazine 
cover, the flue-plate and the hopper to each other, 
and of the hopper to the cover of 
the burner, in the manner and for the purposes 
specified." 

With these improvements added, the stove was 
made in 1866 and 1867. In 1868, the illuminated 
case formed of doors was added. This invention has been secured for 
seventeen years from April 5th, 1870, by the following claims : 






15 





" Constructing the illum- 
inating case of stoves with 
doors or windows which 
swing vertically down- 
ward." 

"Holding the mica 
frames to the doors by 
means of the curved con- 
necting bar." 
" In combining with a vertically swinging door, 
the arrangement of the concealed hinges." 

There has been granted a design patent for 
fourteen years from May 4th, 1870, upon the con- 
struction of the hinged doors, securing to me the 
"exclusive right" to so form any curved hinged 
r fr Q.. Q -^ Sdoor at the lower part of it, that it may be drilled 

^-^""^ \_ w j t k t k e or ci mai y straight drill, and yet have the 

hinge concealed. 






Claim : 

" The design for a concealed 
hinge stove door, as and for 
the purpose herein shown and 
specified." 



There was granted, on the 13th of March, 1866, a patent for seventeen 
years for the hinge to the cover of these stoves, with the following 
claim : 

" A detachable cover and its seat, re- 
spectively provided with a pin and an 
opening, so constructed as to engage or 
lock with each other, for the purpose of hinging and 
securing a cover upon an open-topped vessel, substan- 
tially as described." 

Thus it will be seen that the present pattern of the " Morning Glory" 
stove embodies Jtwenty-four distinct and separate inventions, or improve- 
ments, under patents now in force, besides the original inventions that 
were patented January 24, 1854. 

The United States have granted to me for the terms of years men- 





16 

tioned in these patents, " the full and exclusive right and liberty of 
making, using and vending to others to be used," these various inven- 
tions ; therefore it is a violation of law, besides making a fraudulent use 
of my property, for any person to make, sell or use, any of them, excepting 
those of 1854, without my authority. 

The law of patents is such that any person, though he may have pur- 
chased in good faith, is liable to an action for infringement for selling, or 
using, even a single stove which embodies any of these inventions, the 
patents for which are now in force, unless the stove was made or sold by 
the patentee, or some one authorized by him to do so. 

This law was made to protect the rights of the public ; but it is pecu- 
liar in that it declares that an " invention " shall be the exclusive property 
of the " inventor " for a certain term of years; and therefore it is as much 
the duty of the public to sustain this law as it is to sustain any law ; and 
as wrong to join hands with those who violate it, and appropriate the 
property of others to their own use, as it would be to cooperate in the 
violation of any law. Taking this view of the matter — and no honest 
man can take a different one — it will be conceded that no person can 
have any more moral right to purchase and use a stove that in its. con- 
struction has appropriated, without right, my inventions, knowing that 
such is the case, than to purchase and use my hat and boots, knowing 
them to have been stolen. 

There are various grades of infringers, but the meanest grade that I 
have had to deal with, — and I think the case is without its equal in atro- 
city, — is the instance where an irresponsible party, one of the self-styled 
"Pioneers," falsely represented that he was the " agent for the owner of 
these patents for the States ^f New York and Connecticut/' and that he 
was putting these inventions in practice. This unjust pretension has 
been put forth in the most shameless manner for many years, by both him 
and his principal (who was his wife), who were without any means with 
which to do business ; the " agent" himself being insolvent to the extent 
of several hundred thousand dollars, and therefore justifying the suspi- 
cion that he was simply a "caf s paw " put forward by those who were 
responsible, and who were equally anxious for plunder. 

This man, who has thus claimed to own my inventions, has at the same 
time sought in every manner possible to so avoid them as to make it dif- 
ficult to call his associates, the responsible parties, to account as infringers ; 
they evidently taking this precaution, fearing that the scheme to deprive 
me of the privilege of using my own property at Albany might fail, as it 
has. While making this pretension, and publishing far and wide that he 
as agent was the owner of these inventions " by purchase and assignment," 
his associates were placing themselves in the position, in, answer to a suit 
from me, to be able, with considerable plausibility, to make answer that 
none of their " gains and profits " arose in fraud of any legal rights of 
mine; preparing to take the position that it was the public the} r had 



17 

been defrauding, if fraud it was, and not me ; that their " gains and 
profits " not being made by the use of my inventions, are not recoverable 
by me in a suit for infringement. A good defence, if established, but 
very similar to the one made by a pick-pocket on trial for burglary, when 
pleading that he was not guilty of the crime charged in the indictment, 
notwithstanding his propensity to practice the art of pocket-picking. 

It is a great sin, being a violation of the eighth commandment, to steal 
any kind of property ; and to do so for the purpose of making large 
"gains and profits," makes the crime more perfidious. And where a 
party falsely represents that he is the owner of my inventions, for the 
purpose of selling a bogus article, though he may not violate the eighth 
commandment, he more than violates the ninth. He not only bears false 
witness against me ; but seeks to do me injury, by so treating my property 
before the public as to bring it into disrepute. He and his associates, by 
their libelous publications, intend that their base imitations shall be re- 
garded by the public as a specimen of an inventor's skill; while those 
instrumental in this mischief regard themselves as free to pocket the money 
thus made without fear of its being taken from them by him so grossly 
outraged. 

The firm here referred to, so far as my knowledge extends, were the 
pioxeeks in this mode of doing business. 

Other classes of infringers are at work, some of them following in the 
wake of these " pioneers," taking the form without the substance ; while 
others, apparently taking advantage of the circumstance that my time, 
since 1862, has been so much occupied in preventing these "pioneers" 
from carrying out their scheme, and thinking, no doubt, that I could not 
for that reason prevent their piracy, have taken my property to fix up 
the exterior portions of their stoves, with as much coolness as though 
they expected the approbation of the public for so doing. 

These remarks are not intended to apply to all who are manufacturing 
" Magazine " stoves. There are some honorable manufacturers, who seek 
in good faith to use only their own inventions, together with that which 
has become the property of the public. With such manufacturers there 
is never any serious trouble, for when, by accident, they infringe, they are 
ready to change and avoid interference, or pay for what they have inad- 
vertently taken. I might mention several instances where this has been 
clone, but it will answer my purpose to state that all the magazine stoves 
in market that have been specially adapted for burning anthracite coal, 
which maintain perpendicular lines in the construction of their exterior 
cases (adopting the form of the stove of 1853, see page 7), either do not 
infringe my patents now in force, or have arranged to use a portion of 
my inventions. But all of those stoves adapted for burning anthracite coal 
which have adopted the form of the " Morning Glory" are either infringe- 
ments, or bogus in character; having assumed the form because it is pop- 
ular, or have taken my property in a fraudulent manner. 



18 

The purpose of this pamphlet is to give such a description of my in- 
ventions, that any person can determine whether or not any particular 
stove embodies them, or a portion of them ; and if any, how much ; and 
whether or not a stove which infringes in some respects, is, in fact, a de- 
sirable stove for use. 

The careful investigator will discover that a large share of my inven- 
tions relate to the magazine, and to the chamber which surrounds it, their 
object being to enhance the value of those two elements, by making them 
more effective ; and it is contended that these are the material parts of the 
stove, and that the other portions are subordinate to them. 

It is true that the " basin " or " fire-pot " and grate, which holds the 
coal up to the burning point (the outlet from the magazine), are parts 
which require care in their construction ; particularly the grate, which 
should be so constructed as to dispose of the slate and slag, which cannot 
be burned, without the necessity of allowing the fire to go out. The 
" mill grate " was devised for this purpose, and in the seventy-eight thou- 
sand six hundred and twenty-three "Morning Glory" stoves that have 
been sold since 1860, it has proved itself to be a perfect adaptation, and a 
finishing of that part of the stove ; and it is contended that, next in im- 
portance to the magazine and the conducting flue and heating chamber 
which surrounds it, is this item at the base called the grate. It is also 
contended that even with the " mill grate," and a fire-pot of the most per- 
fect construction, if the magazine is defective, the stove will be of but 
little practical value, — that such a stove will carry with it the seeds of its 
own destruction, which sooner or later will germinate and convince its 
user that when purchasing it a poor selection was made. 

These statements being true, it follows that it would be moderately 
safe, notwithstanding my patents, for any person to make a stove so as to 
resemble the " Morning Glory " in its external appearance, and suspend a 
joint of stove pipe from its top plate over the centre of the fire-pot. It is 
supposed that the " right " is perfect to call this bit of pipe a " magazine 
or feeder," as circumstances require, and the stove a "Base-Burner," in 
order to sell it ; but such are not the kind of " Base-Burners " that merit the 
patronage of the public, nor have they resulted from my inventions ; but 
are a make-believe, got up to sell, because the common surface-burners will 
not sell, owing to the success of the " Morning Glory." 

Various kinds of evasion have been resorted to. In some instances a 
cylinder left open at the top, and made very small from the middle to its 
lower end, has been suspended in the centre of the stove ; sometimes ad- 
justable and sometimes not, and called a " feeder," which is proper ; as it 
not only feeds the coal relieved of a portion of its combustible properties 
to the fire-pot, but it also feeds this same combustible, unburned, from its 
open top to the chimney flue. 

In some instances, this open- topped feeder has been made larger, to 
make it seem like a magazine, and lined with brick at the lower end (a wise 



19 

precaution), having openings through its sides just above the brick. This 
construction, so far as to facilitating the escape of the volatile combustible 
unburned, is preferable to the first-named construction, from the fact that 
it heats the coal to a higher degree before discharging it to the fire-pot, 
and thus evolves more of its gases to go to waste. 

In some instances, this "feeder" has been made open at its sides through- 
out its whole extent. This, so far as to facilitating the escape, unburned, 
of the volatile combustible, and the consequent waste of fuel, is very 
greatly in advance of either of the before-mentioned constructions, as 
will be apparent upon the slightest examination. 

In some instances, the chamber to contain the coal has been very much 
contracted at its lower end, practically making it a " feeder " only ; 
although at the top, it being large, it appears to be a magazine. It is 
placed high up from the fire-pot, in order that the iron, oY which it is 
composed, may not burn out. Such a construction will expose to view 
through the mica windows a large pile of coal, in a partial state of 
ignition only ; and necessarily so, because the top surface and the outlet 
space from the fire-pot being so far from the grate, and so much larger 
than the inlet space for the air through the grate, the coal at the top 
cannot be consumed, but is converted into carbonic oxycle and passed to 
the chimney and wasted. 

If it is desirable to waste fuel, the last mentioned construction should 
be commended in preference to either of those before mentioned, for the 
reason that its only available points of heat are the sides of the fire-pot, 
and such a stove can only be made to heat by a great destruction of fuel. 

All of these evasions are called " Base-Burners," but none of them are 
the result of my inventions, unless it be that their manufacture has been 
a resort made necessary by the success of the " Morning Glory," and the 
inability of manufacturers to sell anything not called a " Base-Burner." 

Another class of these so-called " Base -Burners " is the magazine stove 
as it was prior to the date of any of my inventions or improvements, the 
great defect of which I have already pointed out. My illuminating case, 
the patent for which expired in 1868, has been added to these old stoves, 
so that they are made to look very respectable, and therefore are well 
adapted to be taken for " Base-Burners," when in fact they are simply the 
old " Magazine" stove having my illuminating case added. 

In 1863 (see page 13), I patented a method of constructing the lower 
end of a suspended magazine when composed of fire-brick (the shoulder 
upon the brick and a corresponding shoulder upon the iron cylinder), by 
which the bricks are kept from going down during the unequal expansion 
of the two substances, which takes place on starting the fire. 

It would be difficult to use brick in constructing the lower end of such 
a magazine without infringing this patent. This feature, together with 
the "mill-grate," patented in 1862, is very important; so much so that 
without them the " Morning Glory " could not have achieved its present 



reputation. Imitators have not interfered with either of these inven- 
tions, notwithstanding the chief among, them has published far and wide 
that he was the " agent for the owner of the patent for the States of New 
York and Connecticut." 

But it has been found necessary for some of these imitators to do some- 
thing to the lower end of the " feeder," or magazine, as the case may- 
be ; and therefore they now construct them hollow, introducing a current 
of air to circulate in this hollow space, and from that direction to the 
top of the burning coal ; thus admitting that a great depth of coal ignited 
is only being wasted by passing a portion of its combustible properties 
to the chimney unburned ; but it will be found, as time progresses, that 
such admission of air will increase rather than remedy the difficulty, by 
its checking the action of the stove, and causing a poorer quality of com- 
bustion within the fire-pot. 

The absurdity of such a plan is shown by the fact that such " feeders " 
or magazines, do not readily melt and come to pieces. That they do not, 
proves conclusively that no additional combustion takes place. The only 
gas coming from the top of an anthracite coal fire that will burn is car- 
bonic oxyde — carbon half oxydized — and to combine the other portion of 
oxygen with it, which must be done to burn it, requires a temperature of 
both the air and gas of nearly one thousand degrees of heat ; and if a 
chemical union is thus effected, the temperature at the point of ignition 
will be increased from three to five-fold ; and as iron melts at a less tem- 
perature, the lower end of the " feeder," or magazine, would be destroyed 
within the first twelve hours of such burning. 

Air will mix with such gases and make them more apparent to the 
vision, giving the seller of such a stove a fine chance to talk about gas- 
burning ; but this is not combustion, and while it does not evolve any 
heat, it actually cools those gases on their upward passage. All the air 
which enters the stove above the ignited coal, only tends to cool its upper 
portions and make it less effective ; and for this reason the case forming 
the chamber around the magazine, and receiving the highly heated pro- 
ducts of combustion from the fire-pot, ought to be as near air-tight as 
possible ; and the effect will be precisely the same, whether air is permit- 
ted to pass in through the hollow magazine to this chamber or through 
openings of the same size made in the surrounding case. 

Another objection to such admission of air through the hollow maga- 
zine is the fact that it cools and reduces the temperature at the point 
where^ active combustion must take place, if at all ; which is contrary to 
the correct and established theory. But this may aid the imitators and 
save them from the charge of infringement for copying certain forms, 
which, in the " Morning Glory," have for their object to increase the tem- 
perature at which combustion is to take place. 

The chamber surrounding the fire-pot and magazine necessarily forms 
the heating surface of the stove, and also the conducting flue chamber to 



21 



receive the heated products from the fire-pot, and impart their available 
heat while passing them to the exit flue and chimney. How important, 
then that this current passing from the place of combustion to the exit 
due shall be as highly heated as possible on leaving the point of combustion; . 
and retained and circulated within this chamber as long as possible, in 
order to have an economical stove,-one that will impart the greatest 
amount of heat in proportion to the amount of fuel consumed. 
The devices necessary to produce such a result are : 
First. A properly constructed " covered magazine," one as large as the 
size of the stove will permit, and nearly as large in diameter at its outlet 
as the grate at the bottom of the fire-pot. It should be (at least its cover 
opening) completely immersed within the chamber receiving the products 
of combustion from the fire-pot, in order to prevent the entrance of atmos- 
pheric air under this cover to the fuel it contains when the stove is in 
operation I believe there is no other method by which this can be avoided. 
Its lower end should be composed of some non-combustible and slowly 
conducting material, such as fire-brick, as this part of it, in its proper 
adjustment to the fire-pot, forms the burning point. And, as it is highly 
advantageous to retain heat at this point in order to consummate a 
complete combustion of the fuel, it must be composed of some non-com- 
bustible substance, in order to accomplish this with safety to the stove. 
Iron will not answer the purpose if the magazine is so adjusted to the fire- 
pot that a perfect combustion can be, and is, produced. 

Second The magazine thus constructed, should be so adjusted that 
the space between its lower end and top of the fire-pot, shall not be more 
than equivalent to the size of the grate. 

Third There is no doubt that with the first fire, or for the first forty- 
ei<rht hours after starting a fire, the operation would be more perfect if the 
fh°e-pot was lined with brick or soap-stone ; but this, with the Morning 
Glorv " has not been done, and for the reason that, if so lined, clinkers 
would adhere to its sides, and require removal, which cannot be done 
without much inconvenience. A fire-pot made of iron, and so constructed 
that a certain amount of ashes will adhere to its sides, forms a lming to 
which clinkers will not adhere ; and they cannot adhere to the brie* end 
of a magazine, for the reason that the coal in its descent removes and 
prevents any accumulation at that point, which would not be the case 
with the fire-pot, it being a resting place for the coal. 

Fourth To carry out this plan, and make the best use of a brick-lined 
rnagazine'znd an ashts-linsd fire-pot, the grate on which the coal rests re 
quires to be so constructed as to remove with ease the substances that 
cannot be burned, without letting the fire go out. Letting it go out to 
make such removal also removes the lining of ashes, which will take some 
"ays to replace after starting the next fire. It is claimed that for this pur- 
pose the "mill-grate" is a perfect adaptation ; and that no other grate can 
accomplish this purpose in a satisfactory manner. 



22 

Fifth. To make the best use of these elements, the case to surround 
them should be so constructed as to be uniformly heated throughout its 
whole extent. And it is claimed that this can only be done in part by the 
form of the case, and in part by properly constructed interior devices. 

By form only can the lower part of the case, which receives the heat 
from the sides of the fire-pot, reflect it toward the floor of the apartment. 

By form only can the case above the fire-pot be enlarged so as to give 
room for the requisite expansion of the highly-heated products of com- 
bustion, as they issue from the burning coal, and permit them to pass freely 
from the combustion point. 

By form only can the illuminating space be increased in size ; and it is. 
also by form that this enlarged surface is made to incline in over the fire, 
so as to become more intensely heated than it" would be if perpendicu- 
lar lines were preserved in its construction. 

By form only can the case above the illuminating space be contracted; 
which is necessary, not only to secure the requisite detention, but from 
the fact that, as the volume of heated products will contract just in propor- 
tion as they part with their heat, they require to be passed to a more 
contracted space in order to continue to impart an equally intense heat 
to the contracted portions of the case. 

Thus far the form may be made instrumental in producing a beneficial 
result ; but beyond this, and when the heated products have passed to the 
contracted part of the case, they should be brought to the front region of 
the stove, and near the top of said case caused to be passed through a 
still more contracted space, — an aperture not more than one-twelfth the 
size of the outlet from the fire-pot. This can only be accomplished by a 
proper interior construction ; and by this means the escaping current may 
be retarded, and caused to impart an intense heat to the upper cylindrical 
portion of the case, as well as to the lower portions ; and passing said 
aperture at the front of the stove to properly constructed flues, over the 
top of the magazine, they will impart an intense heat to the whole upper 
part also, and with an ordinary chimney draught will leave only suffi- 
cient in the escaping products as is necessary to maintain a heated cur- 
rent within the chimney flue, which is requisite to the satisfactory opera- 
tion of any stove. 

Articles of value may be known by comparison, and sometimes they 
are only to be discovered in this manner. This is peculiarly the case with 
" Base-Burning" stoves, and for the reason that the great mass of people 
do not have the same knowledge of them as they do of other stoves. 

It is but a few years since my inventions, which gave life to the " Base- 
Burning " stove, as all must admit, were known ; and therefore it is not 
presumptuous to assume that the great mass of people do not yet have the 
requisite knowledge to discriminate and determine as to the merits of the 
various stoves now in market claiming to be " Base-Burners," unless it be to 
judge by comparison, after they have learned what constitutes a " Base- 
Burning" stove. 



23 

The same may be said of many who deal in stoves ; and many of them 
are indifferent as to the true character of a stove. If it only has a " tak- 
ing " appearance, so as to sell and give them a profit, it will answer their 
purpose. What care they for the principle of the thing ? Their purpose 
is to purchase and sell for the profits to be made; and where this is the 
whole purpose, such dealers provide themselves with a sample of various 
patterns, and then use their influence to sell the one that pays them the 
best profit, without reference to its merits, of which they themselves are 
incompetent to judge. 

I have nothing to say as to this bungling manner of doing business, but 
refer to it as a fact necessary to be stated to justify my purpose in this 
publication, which, as before stated, is to give such a description of my 
own inventions as will enable the public to judge, by comparison, whether 
or not any particular stove they are called upon to examine is, in fact, a 
genuine " Base-Burner ; " a term originating with me, and to characterize 
a stove that can burn only at the base, by reason of a properly constructed 
magazine. 

There is no disguising the fact that it was the great success of the 
" Morning Glory " which produced the present demand for " Base-Burn- 
ing" stoves; and the fact should not be lost sight of by the public that 
this stove has obtained its fame and reputation upon its merits alone ; 
that while many imitations produced by influential manufacturers have 
come and gone, the " Morning Glory " continues to increase in public 
favor. That, commencing in 1861 with a sale of less than nine hundred 
stoves, it has increased to more than twenty thousand per year. And 
this not by the efforts of influential manufacturers, with their customers 
to aid them in forcing them upon the market, but by parties not having 
any customers to aid them at the commencement, and in opposition to 
the combined influence of such manufacturers, and their customers as 
well, in many instances; they contending that " Base-Burning " was a 
delusion, while those who knew what they were manufacturing proceeded 
in their efforts, relying, as necessity compelled them, upon the true merits 
of a correct principle properly developed for their success ; which, as is 
very well known, has been far beyond their expectations. 

Not many years ago, it will be remembered, there was an " irrepressible 
conflict" between the principle of "Base-Burning," as exemplified by 
the " Morning Glory," and the leading manufacturers of surface-burning 
stoves, and many of their customers throughout the country ; and as right 
in the end generally prevails, so it was in this instance ; resulting, un- 
doubtedly, in a far greater success than would have been achieved in so 
short a time had there been no unfair opposition to contend with. Un- 
fair is not the name for it, as from some sources it was devilish,* and 
of such a diabolical character as not soon to be forgotten. 



* Head the Appendix. 

2 



24 

My patent of 1862 will not expire until 1879 ; that of 1863 in 1880 ; 
that of 1868 in 1885; those of 1870 in 1887; and the inventions or im- 
provements secured to me by these patents so effectually cover the ground 
in those elements required to be embodied in the construction of a 'practi- 
cal "Base-Burning" stove, that it is impossible, without infringement, to 
fully equal the " Morning Glory " in that respect. This is particularly the 
case so far as to my patents of 1862 and 1863. 

Any quantity of stoves can be made, and I suppose will be, without 
infringing any of these patents ; but they cannot be so made as to em- 
body the characteristics of the "Morning Glory" without a wrongful 
appropriation of my property. 

There is no manufacturer, not even the one who assumed without right 
to be " the agent for the owner of these patents," that dares to duplicate 
the most essential features of the " Morning Glory." Its form only do 
they take pleasure in copying; and form, as such, is not patentable; and 
therefore it is safe to imitate the form if the interior parts are so differ- 
ent from the " Morning Glory " as to change the character of the stove ; 
and if the public will examine the interior construction of the " Morning 
Glory," in which consists its real value, and compare it with the interior 
construction of the stoves made to imitate them, they will find a wide 
difference ; and generally in proportion to the nearness of the imitation, 
will be found a departure from its peculiar interior construction. 

This is a wise precaution, and a course pursued, undoubtedly, by legal 
advice — that of professional expert lawyers, who would as soon be em- 
ployed to criticise, advise, and contrive ways and means to break down 
the patent property of an inventor, as they would to protect such prop- 
erty if their services were so required. 

In these imitation stoves will not be found the " Mill-Grate," the patent 
for which (that of 1862) would be infringed if it was used in any stove, the 
importance of which can hardly be over-estimated. Neither will it be 
found in any of them that they are so constructed as to make a " maga- 
zine " the seat of power, or other parts of the stove subordinate to it. Such 
imitators will plead that their " magazine " is only a " feeder ;" that they 
depend for heating power upon the size of the fire-pot alone. But what 
better is such a stove than the old-fashioned kind, where the coal was 
fed from a coal-scuttle ? Certainly not in economy. 

Neither will be found my interior construction (patent of 1862), devised 
to bring the products of combustion to the front region of the stove, and 
pass them over the top of the magazine made for the purpose of utilizing 
the heat. 

Neither will my inventions (same patent), to retain and keep back from 
the chimney the heat, and utilize it by passing the products of combus- 
tion through a small aperture before they reach the top of the stove, be 
found in any of them. 

Neither will my invention (same patent), to prevent " puffs" and explo- 



25 

sions, oy freeing the magazine of the gases contained in it before opening 
the outer cover, be found in any of them. Some of these imitations are so 
made as to appear externally to employ this invention, but on removing 
the top plate of such stoves, the cheat will be disclosed. 

Neither will be found in them a closed magazine, or " feeder," having its 
lower end composed of fire-brick, or any other non-combustible material 
(patent of 1863); and I contend that a practical "Base-Burning" stove 
cannot be made and permit this part of it to be composed of iron. 

Neither will there be found in them a stove so constructed as to be taken 
apart by dividing it into sections, so as to repair them readily (same patent). 

Neither will there be found in them a covered magazine, so made and 
applied as to be separate from the surrounding case when the stove is in 
use, and that will not injure the case by its use, and that can be taken 
out for repairs without taking the stove apart (patent of 1868), or any 
other feature secured by this patent. 

These inventions, so far as relates to the economy of the stove, its 
durability, ease of management and convenience in repairing, are the 
essential features of the " Morning Glory," not one of which are to be 
found in any other stove, and probably will not be until the expiration 
of my patents. 

The public will discover, upon a careful investigation, that there is a 
wide difference between stoves of this character now in market; and 
that this difference is mainly owing to the fact that " Magazine " stoves 
were made many years ago ; which fully accounts for this sort of stove 
being so numerous at the present time. This is also the principal 
reason why the ordinary stove makers are at liberty to aid in supplying 
a demand for "Base-Burning" stoves, which has been produced by my 
inventions alone. 

There cannot be a greater error than to suppose that because a stove 
is so constructed that its makers have some reason to call it a " Base- 
Burner," that it is worthy of patronage. "Like produces like"; so in 
stoves as in the vegetable kingdom ; and if a stove invented many years 
ago failed, owing to a defective organization, the same will again occur 
if the same cause exists. It is a fact easy to be substantiated, that there 
are a large number of stoves in market claiming to be " Base-Burners" 
which are duplicates in principle of construction of the old machine, and 
which are far inferior in point of fact to the common stove, and would 
soon give place to them were it not for the fact that my inventions are 
kept so prominently before the public. 

The " Base-Burning " stove is a scientific machine, which requires to 
be made by those skilled in the art, in order to insure a correct construc- 
tion, while the surface-burner can be made by any stove maker, it being 
as easy to construct as it is to build a fire upon the ground • and it is 
unreasonable to suppose that ordinary stove makers, who have only had 
experience with common stoves, can suddenly " turn their coats " and 



26 

embark in the production of " Base-Burning " stoves, to the advantage 
of the public, as well as to themselves. 

In considering this question it should be remembered that I have had 
seventeen years' experience in this matter ; that competitors cannot safely 
follow in my footsteps ; and that they do not so follow me in the most 
material features. They can copy my forms, and thus appear to do this ; 
but the time has not yet come when other manufacturers can avail them- 
selves of my inventions brought into legal existence with the " Morning 
Glory." 

It should also be remembered that none of these competitors have any 
better opportunities at the present time than I have ; nor more experi- 
ence in stoves of this character than I had at the commencement ; and 
if seventeen years devoted exclusively to a particular class of stoves is 
worth anything, besides the protection of my patents, by such experience 
I am so much the better able to keep in advance of those who pretend, 
and who would like to follow me, but who dare not do so to such extent 
as to make themselves clearly amenable to the law. 

I am disposed, as heretofore, to be enthusiastic in commending a prin- 
ciple in which I have taken so deep an interest. I commenced in this 
way, and with the whole community to contend with, I have thus pur- 
sued the matter until the number of my stoves in use can be counted by 
thousands, aud have lived to see a complete change in the minds of the 
public with reference to them. 

In 1853 the " Base-Burning" stove had no friends save its constructor. 
At the present time, the whole community being in its favor, it has no 
enemies save those who would prostitute its virtues in order to make 
money ; and it must be conceded that this change in the minds of the 
public is a victory gained that is seldom accomplished during the life 
of any one person. It is more than I expected, as my highest aspirations 
were to make a beginning for others to finish, trusting that I should 
receive a portion of the benefit. 

Had I taken the advice of friends, I should not have embarked in the 
enterprise ; and so embarking, I was without friends, and was compelled 
to look to strangers for assistance, which was apparently a misfortune ; 
but yet it may have been a blessing in disguise. 

It is no easy thing to change the mind of a community. When that 
mind is made up it is seldom changed, except by the passing away of 
those who moulded the opinions, and by influences brought to bear upon 
those who follow after them ; and the inventor who is compelled to work 
a change in the mind of the community before his inventions will be 
truly valuable, has a dubious prospect before him. I was forewarned 
that this was my position, but still pursued the matter, and why I did so 
would be difficult to explain. 

I shall be excused for relating in this connection two incidents of this 
personal history. After having discovered, as I supposed, the great 



2? 

defect in the organization of the "Magazine" stove, I had an irresistible 
propensity to consult those who were competent to advise in matters 
scientific ; and therefore called upon various gentlemen of this stamp 
residing in different parts of the country. From these interviews I was 
enabled to gather much valuable information, and thus more completely 
fortify my position. In every instance, so far as to the defective organi- 
zation of the stove in question, their views corresponded with my own. 
At New York I called upon a gentlemen having a national reputation, 
and who at the time was in the employ of the United States Government. 
This gentlemen treated me very handsomely, and, instead of taking the 
matter into consideration at our first meeting, named an hour when he 
would meet me; at which time he approved of my views upon all 
material points. 

After the subject was exhausted, and he had expressed his approval in 
very flattering terms, he remarked that he was in hopes that what he 
had said would not be the means of leading me into difficulty ; explained 
that his approval had reference to the principle involved, and had not 
been expressed with a view to advise me to embark in the manufacture 
of such stoves. 

This turn of affairs took me by surprise, as I had already been induced 
to commence the building of " castles in the air." But as he had been 
frank in expressing his opinions, I felt at liberty to call for an explana- 
tion, at the same time giving as my opinion that a principle so correct, 
and of such apparent value, could not fail to meet the approbation of the 
public. To this he replied that I was in error ; arguing that the minds 
of the people were all made up on this subject, and had been for many 
years, and to the effect that coal was only to be burned in a certain way, 
and which was directly the opposite from " Base-Burning." Predicted 
that when making efforts to sell such stoves, it would be " up-hill" work, 
in that I would find the prejudice of every person to be against them ; 
that before any money could be made, it would be necessary to work a 
complete change in the minds of the public; and to do this, however 
dilligent I might be in the effort, even if I should succeed finally, it was 
hardly possible that I would live long enough to receive any benefit 
from it. And, evidently with a view to dissuade me from the enterprise, 
he turned himself in his chair so as to face me, and calling me by name, 
said, "Mr. L. you have the appearance of a man that would be compe- 
tent to succeed in almost any feasible enterprise, and there are many 
such opportunities, and my advice is, that you drop this subject and 
take hold of something more certain of a reward for your services." 

It would have been better had I never seen this gentleman. Had I 
believed him to be correct as to the feasibility of the enterprise I should 
have abandoned it ; but, persuading myself that he was in error, I pro- 
ceeded, although with " fear and trembling." I had less confidence in suc- 
cess, and therefore the interview was an injury, besides it was the cause 
of much anxiety, and of many hours of unpleasant thought, 



28 

This was the last person of this stamp consulted prior to making the 
stove of 1853. In my view at that time it was sufficient, and that such 
interviews had better not be repeated. In some respects he was right, 
as I afterward discovered ; but as a whole he was greatly in error, and 
ought not to have so treated the matter. From his stand-point he should 
have known that the world moves, and does not go backward ; and that 
a step in advance is so much gained, and if rightly taken will never be 
receded from. 

As before stated, the stove of 1853 was not a success, though it was 
not so much of a failure as claimed by its manufacturers. After this, 
and when the matter was at its lowest ebb, I felt as though my success, 
to a great extent, must depend upon having the aid of some person com- 
petent to advise in matters of this character ; and for various reasons I 
selected the late Dr. Nott as the proper person. With considerable 
doubt as to what the result might be, I called upon him at his rooms at 
Union College, Schenectady. And mark the difference between him and 
the gentleman before referred to. So soon as I had explained what I 
proposed to do, he took me by the hand and assured me that I was the 
first and only person he had ever met that had constructed, or had tried 
to construct, a stove upon correct principles; and upon askiug him if he 
could be induced to aid in the matter by his advice and counsel, he 
assured me that nothing would give him greater pleasure. 

This my first interview with this great and good man ended by his 
consenting to remove one of his own stoves from where he had used it 
for over thirty years, and have one of mine, as imperfect as it then was, 
put up in its place. The first and most pleasant result of this interview 
was the dissipation of the night-mare bearing me down since my inter- 
view with the man of science at New York. 

I had no further occasion to call upon other men of science, and have 
never done so. But for several years, and as long as Dr. Nott was able 
to attend to business, I received his aid and counsel. Have taken stoves 
to his room at Schenectady, and taken them apart and put them together 
again in his presence for the purpose of submitting to him their peculiar 
devices and construction ; and many alterations were made at his sug- 
gestion, and afterward found to be advantageous. But the benefits 
derived from such suggestions were nothing in comparison to his aid in 
other respects. 

I was then full of ideas as to how the stove, under its new organiza- 
tion, ought to be constructed, some of which turned out to be erroneous. 
It was him alone that was fully competent to select the wheat from the chaff; 
and this he did, causing me to discard many erroneous ideas I had be- 
fore entertained, and giving me greater confidence in those that were 
of the genuine character ; and in this way I was greatly aided by this 
eminent man; resulting, in my opinion, in the production of a more 
perfect stove than would ever have been produced by me had it not been 
my fortune to receive his aid. 



29 

At all times, whether constructing or re-constructing these stoves, rny 
sole purpose has been to make them more valuable. The views of those 
not understanding clearly what constituted a " Base-Burner " I have sel- 
dom taken into consideration ; and in some instances I have lost trade 
by not doing so. But time has shown that this was the proper course to 
be pursued ; and that it undoubtedly has resulted in the production of a 
better stove and more friends, than if I had undertaken, as manufacturers 
generally do, to cater to the notions of those who are evidently disposed 
to be friendly, but who are incompetent to construct a stove of this char- 
acter ; and therefore there is nothing to regret on that score. 

I have great confidence in the " Morning Glory," and to such an extent 
that I do not hesitate to say, that at the end of two seasons' use the party 
purchasing and so using one of these stoves will be better off, in the 
matter of dollars and cents, Ao say nothing of their convenience, than 
if for the same use any other stove had been put up free of charge. 

The "Littlefield Stove Manufacturing Company " for the past 
two seasons have stood behind their customers and authorized them to 
put these stoves up on trial in place of any other stove, and guarantee a 
saving in fuel of at least one-third. 

The information contained in this pamphlet is sufficient to serve as a 
key and guide, by which any person can learn what constitutes a genuine 
"Base-Burner"; and to condemn as unfit for purposes of economy the 
various stoves made in imitation of the " Morning Glory," and claiming 
to be "Base-Burners"; and it has been my purpose to so state the facts 
that any person can learn them ; but some there are who use these imi- 
tation stoves, and like them because of their cheerful appearance, and, 
not taking the question of economy into consideration, speak well of 
them. To such I will say, It matters not how well you are pleased with 
such stoves, if you desire to be better pleased, and to practice economy, 
please call upon any person who sells the " Morning Glory," and propose 
to take one on trial and pay for it providing you like it better, and find 
it to be more economical than the stove you have been using, and your 
proposition will be accepted. 

I have no apology to make for writing this pamphlet, unless it be to 
the public for not sooner making known the facts herein contained. I 
have had a desire to do this for some years past, but the circumstances 
did not seem to warrant it ; but as imitators have grown presumptous, 
even to the extent of representing their imitations as being " improve- 
ments" upon, and " superior" to, the " Morning Glory," I could not longer 
permit such assurance to remain unexposed. 

D. G. LITTLEFIELD. 
Albany, July 20, 1870. 



31 



APPENDIX. 



THE SYPHON FLUE, 

{See Cut on opposite page,) 

AUXILIARY FOR THE PURPOSE OF HEATING THE BASE MORE PERFECTLY ; 

A RECENT INVENTION, FOR WHICH A CAVEAT HAS BEEN 

FILED IN THE PATENT OFFICE. 

It is well known that I have regarded a " Revertible Flue " as unfit to 
be employed in " Base-Burning " stoves, and for the following reasons : 
First, that, when such flue is used, a proper combustion in the fire-pot 
cannot be maintained, from the fact that the gaseous products, being 
turned down below the fire-pot, prevents their free escape from it ; 
resulting in filling the interstices among the ignited coal with such 
gases, so that air cannot freely pass amongst it, as it should to properly 
support its combustion, producing a dead red fire, when it should burn 
with a white glow of Jieat ; and, second, that, with such stoves (the revert- 
ible flue being used), the gaseous products will also accumulate in that 
part of the stove above the fire-pot, and will (the stove never being gas 
tight) escape to poison the air of the room. 

These were my views when constructing the first pattern of the 
" Morning Glory," and, not having seen anything to change those views, 
and much to confirm them, a " Revertible Flue " will not be applied to 
the "Morning Glory" stove. 

It is advantageous to so construct a stove that its base can be heated, 
but not at the expense of a correct principle of construction. This was 
my purpose when, in 1863, I constructed the No. 3 stove, the suspended 
fire-pot, which stove, it is contended, will warm its base more completely 
than any "Revertible Flue" stove now in use, providing its ash-pan is 
cleaned out once per day, and the coal burned is of proper size and 
quality, and the stove properly treated. But some people will not empty 
the ash-pan, nor be particular about the size or quality of the coal, nor 
see to it that the stove has any attention ; and, in this way, the object of 
that improvement may, and probably is, sometimes defeated. 

A " Revertible Flue" stove, in the hands of such persons, may obviate 
their difficulty ; but, in doing so, it can but produce one of far greater 
magnitude. 

2 



32 

Who would not prefer to warm their room even with a stove having a 
cold base, rather than live in an atmosphere tainted with a deadly poison ? 

But the world moves ; and it is my purpose not to fall behind in im- 
provements. I have, therefore, sought out a plan, without violating a 
correct principle, for effectually heating the base of the stove, so long as 
there is a fire in it, whether the ash-pan is emptied or not, and therefore 
is specially adapted for those who will not empty the ash-pan. 

I accomplish this by resorting to a well-known principle, the Syphon, 
which is a bent tube, whose arms are of unequal length, which, being 
filled, and the short arm inserted into a filled cask, will empty it from 
the bung-hole, providing the long arm extends below the opposite side 
of it. 

To accomplish my purpose, I have inverted the syphon, as, for this 
purpose, it is to convey a volatile instead of a fixed fluid. I place the 
short arm so as to be immersed within the heated products of combus- 
tion contained in the chamber above the fire-pot, and the long arm so as 
to discharge into the exit flue and smoke pipe, while the bent portion is 
to form an annular chamber in the stove-bottom. 

The cut but imperfectly represents the invention, but showing the 
chamber in the base, which is very large. This chamber, at the rear, 
and between the upright portions of the syphon, is divided by an upright 
partition crossing it, so that the volume of heat taken in at the short arm 
(shown by an arrow) will pass down and around the whole periphery 
of the base before it can reach the long arm, and pass upward to the exit 
flue and chimney. 

The upright portions of the syphon are made quite small, the purpose 
being to retard the circulating current while in the bottom, keeping it 
there as long as possible, taking time to fill said chamber, and equal time 
to empty it, the current being retarded by the smallness of the descend- 
ing and ascending portions of the syphon. 

That this is a purely philosophical improvement must be conceded. 
We have tested it by a stove thus constructed, and find it to operate pre- 
cisely as anticipated, and as follows : 

On starting the fire the long arm of the syphon is heated by the direct 
action of the fire, heating the air within it, and causing it to move 
upward. At the same time, the heated current from the fire, on its pass- 
age over the magazine to the exit pipe, passes parallel with (see arrows) 
and hastens to unite with the discharging current from the long arm. 
These two forces tend to create a vacuum, and will displace the air from 
all parts of the syphon, when, as it must be filled, the short arm, being 
immersed within the chamber receiving the heat from the fire-pot, will 
receive it to the extent of its capacity, and so fill the enlarged portion in 
the base, and maintain a heated current in that direction, so long as the 
fire continues to burn, and this without apparently diminishing the heat 
from other portions of the stove. 



33 • 

The engraving represents the stove without an ash-pan, showing the 
lower bottom and a portion of the upper plate resting upon it, together 
with the rim between the two, around which the annular chamber is 
formed, and within which the ash-pan is to set, and rests upon the lower 
plate. This rim is a loose piece, held in place by a turn button, and can 
be removed when desirable to clean the syphon. 

It will be observed that this invention is simply an addition to the 
stove as heretofore constructed; that it is harmless in its character, as 
it works no change, unless for the better ; and that, unlike a " Revertible 
Flue" stove, it will not put an end to valuable lives, even though the 
syphon should become filled with soot and ashes ; as, even in that case, 
the stove would still perform the same as though this invention had 
never been thought of. 

Beware of " counterfeits" and " confidence operators" Since this inven- 
tion was advertised, this class of stove makers have commenced the use 
of the word " Syphonial," and in some instances " Syphon"; attempting 
to use those terms to sell the ordinary " Eevertible Flue " stove, which 
poisons and Mils people. The genuine "Syphon Flue" requires no 
damper to turn the heat downward, as those stoves do which are now 
attempting to pirate upon my " exclusive right" to use this term. 

D. G. L. 



> » » 



RETAIL PRICES 

OF THE 

MORNING GLORY 



CONTAINING THE SYPHON FLUE. 



No. 20 $22 00 

"21 25 00 

*.»"•■ 29 00 

"23 32 00 

"24 3600 

"25 39 00 

"26 43 00 



THE 



MORNING GLORY 



AS IMPRO VEB FOB 1870. 




RETAIL PRICES 



FOR 1870- 



No. 19 Low Top, $17 00 



20 


a 


20 00 


21 


u 


23 00 


22 


u 


26 00 


23 


M 


29 00 


24 


u 


32 00 


25 


11 


35 00 


26 


a 


38 00 



26 High Top, 44 00 
28 " 50 00 

30 " 60 00 

32 " 70 00 



35 



THE MOENIM GLORY FOR 1870. 



HIGH TOP. 





OVENS, 



No. 19, 20, 21, 
" 22, 23, 
( " 24, 25, 26, 



Net Price, $2 50 

2 75 

3 00 



38 



LITTLEFIELD'S PARLOR FURMCE, 

OR DOUBLE HEATER. 




RETAIL PRICES. 



AS A PARLOR FURNACE. 

No. 10, . . $31 00 
" 11, . . 37 00 



12, 
13, 



44 00 
51 00 



AS A DOUBLE HEATER. 
No. 10, . . $30 00 

11, . . 36 00 

12, . . 43 00 

13, . . 50 00 



39 



THE MORNING GLORY 



PORTABLE HOT-AIR FURNACE. 




No. 15, Size of Base, . . ' . . . . 28 by 28 inches. 

" 17, " 30 by 30 " 

" 19, " 32 by 32 u 

"21, " 34 by 34 " 



40 



THE MORNING GLORY 



BEICK FUENACE. 




No. 19, size of brick work, 
" 22, 
" 26, 



5 feet 4 inches by 5 feet 7 inches. 

5 feet 8 inches by 5 feet 11 inches. 

6 feet by 6 feet 3 inches. 



Either size can be pnt up in a cellar that is six feet and six inches in 
the clear. The numbers 19, 22 and 26 give the diameter of the grate 
and the magazine of each size respectively. 



41 



SPECIAL NOTICE. 



An intercourse of many years with those dealing in and using heating 
stoves, has convinced me that a majority of persons, when purchasing 
such stoves, select sizes that are too small to heat economically the space 
required to be heated. It is poor economy to save three, four or even 
eight dollars, by taking a small size, and afterwards discover that it is 
too small for the work required of it. 

The " Morning Glory " stoves have been manufactured with a view of 
having them suited to rooms of certain sizes. For a room of ordinary 
height of ceiling, and taking, to cover the floor, from 

15 to 20 square yards of carpet, a No. 19, 20 or 21 
20 to 25 " " " " 21 or 22 

25 to 35 " " " " 22 or 23 

35 to 45 " " " " 23 or 24 

45 to 60 " " " " 25 or 26 

Should there be more than the usual number of openings (doors and 
windows), or any other cause to render the heating of the room more 
than ordinarily difficult, a larger stove than indicated should be used. 

I would say to the trade, better lose the sale of a stove, than permit 
one of these stoves to be sold for use in a place where you know it is not, 
or have doubts as to its being large enough to heat the space required of it. 

Few persons realize that a room 21 feet by 21-J- feet is more than twice 
as large as one 15 by 15, or that one, the ceiling of which is 12 feet high, 
has one-third more cubic feet of space than one of the same size and 9 
feet ceiling. 

Nos. 26, 28, 30 and 32, High Top, are designed for large rooms, halls, 
stores, etc., and the size used should be selected according to the size of 
the room. 

The above remarks are based upon my r own experience and observa- 
tion, and are submitted to the trade and the public, with the hope that 
they may have a beneficial effect. 



42 



INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE. 



SIZE OIF OOA.HL.- 




CHESTNUT SIZE. 




NUT SIZE. 



PREFACE. 

See that the stove is perfect ; that the mica windows are properly 
fitted. See also that the pipe is properly fitted, and that there is no 
other opening to the same flue left open. 

STARTING THE FIRE. 

Proceed as with any stove; have it burn slowly at first; leave 
the reservoir cover open when igniting the kindlings, to avoid smok- 
ing the windows. Supply hard coal at first in small quantity, and 



43 

when once ignited fill the reservoir full and close its cover, and keep it 
closed at all times, except when it becomes necessary to supply coal. If 
this cover is left open, or opened to hasten the action of the stove, it per- 
mits the whole mass of coal to become ignited, 

SPECIAL ! ! 

and will destroy the interior arrangements by burning them up, and cause 
the coal to waste away the same as in a common stove. 

EXPLOSIONS AND ESCAPE OF GAS. 
To re-fill with coal, the reservoir cover should be first opened, and 
thereby avoid the escape of gas to the room. After supplying coal, first 
close the outer cover, then the reservoir cover. This invention, the 
object of which is to prevent the escape of gas to the room, is patented 
irrespective of its peculiar construction. No "Base-Burning" stove is 
or can be safe in those respects that does not employ this invention. 

EE-KINDLING. 

When the fire is out from neglect to supply coal, shake out the ashes, 

and kindle on the old coal the same as on the grate in the first instance, 

which can be done with ease, unless the quantity remaining more than 

fills the pot, in which case shake out a portion until the depth is only 

from four to six inches, which will ignite from the top and burn down to 

the bottom. 

PERPETUAL BURNING 

To keep the fire over night, shake out the ashes and slag by means of 
the " Mill Grate." See that the reservoir is well supplied with coal. Nearly 
close the draft register, and open the regulator on the top cover, so as to 
permit cold air to pass in at the top, which will check the draught and 
cool the stove, so that the coal will burn slowly during the night, and 
the stove be in fine condition for action in the morning. 

SIZE OF COAL. 

Small coal must be used, though this is not so important as with some 
of my former stoves. All sizes of the " Morning Glory " will do well 
with a size of coal that is suitable for a No. 7 cook stove ; but they will 
do far better if proper attention is paid to adapt the size to the size of 
the stove; say for Nos. 19, 20 and 21, chestnut or nut size ; 22, 23 and 
24, nut size ; 25, 26, 28, 30 and 32, small stove size. Never select the size 
of coal to be burned by looking at the grate, it being a " mill grate," and 
not open across its entire surface, permits a large opening -at the centre. 
More coal will pass through the grate and be wasted when too large for 
the size of the stove, than when it is quite small, owing to the fact that 
if the coal is too large, combustion ceases after a time, immediately 
above and upon the grate, and such imperfectly burned coals are milled 
through with the ashes and slag; whereas, if it is small and of the 
proper size, none will pass through after starting the first fire. 



44 



THE "PIONEERS." 



As to my connection with them and their successors a large volume 
might be written ; but the time is not yet when all the facts should be 
stated ; nor is it necessary to justify my reference to them in this publi- 
cation. 

These parties, for purposes of gain, have represented throughout the 
country that, for a valuable consideration, I parted with my " exclusive 
right " within the states of New York and Connecticut, to make, sell and 
use my inventions in ' ' Base-Burning " stoves, when to their knowledge 
nothing could be more untrue. 

Prior to the month of April, 1853, 1 was the owner of Letters Patent, 
bearing date April 15, 1851, for an improvement in Parlor " Cooking 
Stoves," a stove which did not, and was not intended to employ a " fuel 
magazine," but was so made as to burn the coal precisely the same as in 
the common stove. 

Prior to this time I had made what was supposed to be an improve- 
ment upon this stove — an arrangement for burning the gases arising from 
the burning coal — and had made application for a patent upon the same, 
and which was then pending. 

These stoves I proposed to have made upon a royalty, and started 
out from Lowell, Mass., then my place of residence, for the purpose of 
making such arrangements. 

I first arranged with parties at Boston for the States of Massachusetts, 
Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine ; then with parties 
at Philadelphia for Pennsylvania and New Jersey ; then with parties at 
Baltimore for Maryland, Delaware, and the States south; when I came to 
Albany and contracted with Treadwell & Perry for the States of New 
York and Connecticut. 

All of these agreements were the same in character, and embraced the 
patent of 1851 only, with improvements thereafter to be made upon the 
same. None of these agreements were ever cancelled, and no person 
has ever claimed under them any right or interest in my inventions in 
" Base-Burning " stoves, excepting under this agreement with Treadwell 
& Perry. Neither of the two stoves referred to in said agreements were 
ever made at Albany, or elsewhere, subsequent to the making of said 
agreements. 



. 45 

The agreement with Treaclwell & Perry was executed on the 5th clay 
of April, 1853, and on the same day said application for a patent was 
rejected, but was unknown to me until about the 10th of said month, 
and after I had returned to Massachusetts ; and it was subsequent to this 
time that I devised the stove of 1853, patent of January 24, 1854. 

None of these agreements were assignments of my " exclusive right" 
and " title " in any patent, but were contracts, by which the parties were 
to have the right to make and sell certain stoves, by paying me a 
"royalty" upon each stove sold, for the right to do so ; and in all of said 
agreements my right to make "Hot- Air Furnaces," embracing said 
inventions, was reserved to be disposed of as afterwards I might see fit. 

Any person can ascertain by reading sections 11 and 14 of the Act of 
1836 (the Patent Law), that such agreements gave no right to bring suits 
for the infringement of said patents, and for the reason that the parties 
thus contracted with were licensees only, having a right to make certain 
stoves, so long as they paid the " royalty," and no longer. 

Having devised the stove of 1853 (patent of 1854), I had no desire to 
make either of the two first-mentioned stoves, and my purpose was not 
to do so ; but instead, to make the last-mentioned stove. I saw all the 
parties with whom I had contracted with a view to have them substitute 
and manufacture the last-mentioned stove, instead of the one contem- 
plated when making said agreements, and which they all declined to do, 
excepting Treadwell & Perry. 

It was a part of these agreements that I was to furnish undressed cast 
iron patterns for four several sizes of stoves, which should embrace the 
supposed invention for which I had applied for a patent. This I declined 
to do ; but proposed to furnish, instead, four sizes of the new construc- 
tion, which they all declined to receive, excepting Treadwell & Perry ; 
though the party at Baltimore, after the 1854 patent was granted, came 
to Albany, and to the knowledge of Treadwell & Perry, made a new 
agreement with me to be furnished with the same patterns that had been 
furnished to Treadwell & Perry. 

It will thus be seen that my first "Base-Burning" stove was not 
secured by any patent until after it had been manufactured one season, 
and by its manufacturers had been pronounced a " dead failure." 

My arrangement with them to make this stove instead of the one con- 
templated when making the agreement was a verbal one ; and if it was 
true, that said stove was a " dead failure," it was a sufficient reason for 
their refusal to pay me a royalty for the right to make it ; and it is pos- 
sible that if said firm had not felt under some obligations, by reason of 
this verbal agreement to pay me a royalty, notwithstanding said stove 
was not patented, it might not have been so much of a " dead failure" as 
they claimed it to be. 

They agreed to pay me the royalty mentioned in the written agree- 
ment; and the understanding was, that if I procured a patent, we 



46 



would then either make a new agreement, the royalty to be the same or 
add a clause to the written agreement, so as to properly proteT'the 
nghteofpart.es; and thus the matter stood as arranged between Mr 
John S. Perry and myself, at Albany, on the 18th clay of May 1853 

Said stove was patented on the 24th of January, 1854; but the paper* 
being sent to my attorney at Boston, were not received by m until some 

alHdea of "' *?" **** *" »* ** had ™ A ^ ^nd^d 

all idea of ever making any more of said stoves 

When said patent was received, I took it to their office for the purpose 
of completing or perfecting the understanding had with said firm in 
May previous; but they declined to take any action in regard to sad" 
written agreement, and handed me the patent, as being f matter r 
thing in which they had no right or interest 

Throughout the year 1854 I made every effort possible, by persuasion 
to induce said firm and their successors, Treadwell, Perry' /&, and W. 
and J. Treadwell, Perry & Norton, to carry out in good faith what thev 
had agreed ft, doin May, 1853; but they declined, and did not make any 
whole stoves in 1854, though they sold a few that year which had been 
left over from the previous year, after being modified in some respecte 
but pronouncing them a "dead failure" all the time; and evideX to 
skou, that they so believed them to be such a failure, in January 1855 
hey brought together all of those stoves, then on hand, from their 
sample room - and store houses, and broke them up, to be" meTed and 

coufdnoTh § 1 ?' St0V6S; Wh6n " WaS ^arly understood that they 
could not be induced to proceed any further in the premises 

After this and prior to April 1st, 1855, 1 called upon these parties for 

a settlement, and to allow me on such settlement a royalty upon the 

stoves that had been sold, as they had agreed to do ; when they declined 

SSsVwIth t° al lT ^ CreditS ' and insiSted that * should P^ aem 
$750, with interest from April 1st, 1853 : a sum which I was owinj them 

when making the written agreement, and which they therein agreed, and 
afterward verbally agreed, should be paid from the royalties upon said 
stoves. And afterwards, in July, 1857, Mr. John S. Perry and Mr. Wni 
B. Treadwell, who composed the dissolved firm of Treadwell & Perrv 
brought suit to recover this $750, said Perry making oath to the com- 
plamt, and that I was then owing them the said $750, with interest; 
which complaint and the affidavit thereto attached are now in my 
possession. " 

<mC\? theSe P arties h *™ ever paid, or offered to pay me the first 

Th ir wh T y ngh l ° r PriVilege t0 make ' Use or sel1 "V inventions. 
1 heir whole course has been an outrage, in that I have never been bene- 
fited by my connection with them to the extent of one cent; whereas I 

ttZ V 2i°™ t0 i efeM myS6lf againSt THEM ' " * would WP™ "Von 
ZZ{Z, M TWENTT THOTS ^ ^ollabs; and probably one 

hundred thousand doluars would not indemnify me for the damages 



47 

I have suffered in consequence of the proceedings wherein they have 
appeared to be the parties proceeding against me. 

Treadwell & Perry had a right, in 1853, to make my stoves as patented 
January 24, 1854, for the reason, and that only, that we verbally so 
. agreed in May, 1853. Had they paid me the royalty agreed upon, and 
continued to manufacture them, their right as licensees would undoubtedly 
have been perfect. But a refusal to pay the royalty, or a discontinuance 
of their manufacture, would as certainly end the arrangement, and 
relieve me from all obligation to them by reason of it. And it is imma- 
terial whether they acquired the right to " make," "sell" and "use" this 
invention of 1854 by virtue of said written agreement, or by the verbal 
agreement; as in either case, when they refused to pay the royalty, and 
discontinued the manufacture of said stoves, it put an end to the arrange- 
ment, and permitted me to make arrangements with other parties with- 
out liability to them. But if, "by hook or by crook," it could be made 
to appear that Treadwell & Perry received from me a " legal assignment" 
of my inventions, they would be treated as owning them. In which case 
it would be entirely immaterial in a suit against me whether or not they 
had made any stoves, or performed their part of the agreement in any 
respect. This is the position they assumed loithout any right, and without 
which they never could have given me any trouble. 

The firm of Treadwell & Perry was dissolved in June, 1854, and was 
succeeded by Treadwell, Perry & Co.; which firm was dissolved on the 
first of November, 1854, and was succeeded by W. and J. Treadwell, 
Perry & Norton ; which firm failed in May, 1860, leaving all the general 
partners insolvents to the extent of several hundred thousand dollars. 
Their effects, by an order of the Supreme Court of this State, went into 
the hands of a receiver for the benefit of their creditors. 

In March, 1862, as it would seem, " Treadwell & Perry," who had been 
a dead firm for eight years, discovered that there was some property after 
all which did not go into the possession of said receiver, consisting of 
the "exclusive right" to use my inventions in "Base-Burning" stoves 
within the states of New York and Connecticut ; and, unknown to me, 
pretended to sell this " exclusive right" for three hundred dollars; and on 
the 5th day of said month executed a transfer to one George W. Sterling, 
of Poughkeepsie, K Y. ; which assignment was duly recorded at the 
patent office upon the record of assignments of patents. 

On the seventh day of the following month they pretended to sell this 
same property to one Andrew Dickey (now a member of the firm of 
Perry & Co.), for fifty dollars. This was cheap ; but as they had already 
sold it to Sterling, and had executed to him a proper assignment of their 
" interest in and arising out of the contract with Dennis G. Littlefield, 
dated April 5, 1853, and to the patents and improvements and extensions 
thereof in the said contract transferred or referred to," they probably did 
not have the assurance to ask Dickey to pay them more than fifty dollars 



til 
ill 

l T f 
till 
the 
Oti 

1 

pin 
k 



48 

for nothing, which was all that he could possibly receive by his assign 
ment from them. 

But Dickey got out of it without loss. On the second day of July 
1862, as appears by the record of assignments of patents at the paten 
office, he assigned his " right and interest (which was nothing) in the sak 
contract with the said Littler! eld, and in the patent and patents there ii 
referred to," to Mary J. Perry, the wife of Mr. John S. Perry, for tin 
sum of fifty dollars. 

While these various transfers were taking place, and not until then, di L 
Mr. John S. Perry begin to advertise that he was the " agent for the 
owner of the patent for the said two States." 

These pretended transfers of the "exclusive right" to put my inven- 
tions in practice within the states of New York and Connecticut was tli 
base of an " equity suit" in the Circuit Court of the United States, tha 
is without its equal, and probably will always remain so. A suit tha 1 
has cost thousands of dollars to defend, and which has undoubtedly costi 
somebody corresponding thousands to prosecute. And the most singular] 
part of it is the fact that it was instituted by a woman having no prop 
erty, and having a husband to act as her agent in conducting it, and Ik 
an insolvent to the extent of hundreds of thousands of dollars. 

To fully understand the wrongfulness of this suit, the law and the rvlcL^ 
established by the Supreme Court at Washington, to guide the variou^ ^ 
Circuit Courts in their proceedings, must be understood. 

It does not follow that, because Circuit Courts of the United Statc-L 
have been established in the various States, every man can proceed 
therein at will to bring suits as he may do before a Justice of the Peace 
and in the State Courts. 

The law, as set forth in the twenty-fourth equity rule, provides thai], 

every bill shall contain the signature of counsel annexed to it, whien 
shall be considered (by the Court) as an affirmation on his part, that upon 
the instructions given to him, and the case laid before him, there is gooc 
ground for the suit, in the manner in ivhich it teas framed" 

This law and rule was established to prevent the institution of suit 
without legal and equitable cause. This being the case, when a bill o: 
complaint is so endorsed and filed, the Court, when it comes to act in th 
premises, starts off with the idea fixed upon its mind that the defendant 
have committed a wrong act, for which the law is invoked to prevent an< 
put an end to. This one man, an arbitrary power, is bound by his oatl 
of office to protect this plaintiff who has been so endorsed by a counselo Lj 
of his Court; and if the defendants are so unfortunate as to fail to con 
vince this power that the plaintiff and counselor are in the wrong, an< 
that they themselves are in the right, the case is a foregone conclusion 
so far as to its consideration by this same Judge. 

The first dash (I cannot think of a better term). made in said suit wa . 
a motion for an injunction ; upon the argument of which the defendants ^ 



49 

hrough the neglect of their own attorney, were not present. The same 
vas granted, and by its terms the defendants were commanded to " abso- 
utely desist and refrain from using or in any way "putting in practice the 
mprovement in stoyes or invention described in or covered by the seve- 
al letters patent to Dennis G. Littlefield, bearing elate the loth day of 
Ipril, 1851, the 24th day of January, 1854, the 25th clay of June, 1861, 
md the 19th day of November, 1861, or either of them." .Thus com- 
nanding me not to do what all certified copies of the. bill filed in the 
ierlc's office showed clearly that I had a perfect right to do. 
. It was supposed for more than three years that on granting this injunc- 
tion the Court did not write an opinion; but it was finally discovered 
hat one was written, and filed at the clerk's office (A. A. Boyce, Esq., of 
Jtica, N". Y.) at the same time the order for said injunction was filed ; 
hough too late to take advantage of it, which might have been done had 
he defendants received a copy of it at the same time they received from 
[Jtica a copy of the order of the Court that said injunction might issue 
igainst them. 

It was stated in said opinion that " the bill in this case w r as filed by the 
)laintiff for the infringement of certain patents granted to D. G. Little- 
ield, one of the defendants, for improvements in stoves, of which she 
laims the ' exclusive right,' by assignment of the territories of the 
tates of XeAV York and Connecticut." 

ISTo such bill as here described was ever filed in this cause at the clerk's 
ffice, or served upon the defendants, as the records of the Court will 
learly show. 

It was further stated in said opinion, that ;t the answer sets up, as the 
ole grounds of defense, that the letters patent under which the plaintiff 
laims title had not been duly assigned to her, or, in the words of the 
nswer, had not been legally assigned and transferred to Tread well & 
*erry, and from Treaclwell & Perry, through various parties, to the 
omplainant, Mary J. Perry." 

The bill in this cause, filed at the clerk's office, also the copy of the 
nme that was served upon the defendants, contains a copy of the agree- 
lent before referred to, of April 5th, 1853 ; and therefore clearly showed 
pon its face that this answer of the defendants, from which the Court 
uoted, was liter cdly true, and that it was a perfect defense against said 
lotion. This necessarily appears upon an examination of all certified 
)pies of said bill ; and it was to such a copy of it that the defendants 
sade said answer. 

Said opinion further stated, that u the bill sets out various assignments 

educing a title from the patentee to the l exclusive right ' to the use of 

e patents for the territories above mentioned to the complainant, and 

dy authenticated copies of the same have been produced on this motion for 

t injunction." 

A " duly authenticated copy" of an assignment is a paper certified by 



48 

for nothing, which was all that he could possibly receive by his assign- 
ment from them. 

But Dickey got out of it without loss. On the second day of July. 
1862, as appears by the record of assignments of patents at the patent 
office, he assigned his " right and interest (which was nothing) in the sale 
contract with the said Littlefield, and in the patent and patents therein 
referred to," to Mary J. Perry, the wife of Mr. John S. Perry, for tin 
sum of fifty dollars. 

While these various transfers were taking place, and not until then, di, .; 
Mr. John S. Perry begin to advertise that he was the " agent for the 
owner of the patent for the said tico States" 

These pretended transfers of the "exclusive right" to put my inven- 
tions in practice within the states of New York and Connecticut was tin: 
base of an " equity suit" in the Circuit Court of the United States, tha 
is without its equal, and probably will alwaj^s remain so. A suit tha* 
has cost thousands of dollars to defend, and which has undoubtedly cost 
somebody corresponding thousands to prosecute. And the most singular 
part of it is the fact that it was instituted by a woman having no prop- 
erty, and having a husband to act as her agent in conducting it, and he 
an insolvent to the extent of hundreds of thousands of dollars. . 

To fully understand the wrongfulness of this suit, the law and the rules 
established by the Supreme Court at Washington, to guide the various 
Circuit Courts in their proceedings, must be understood. 

It does not follow that, because Circuit Courts of the United States 
have been established in the various States, every man can proceed 
therein at will to bring suits as he may do before a Justice of the Peace, 
and in the State Courts. 

The law, as set forth in the twenty-fourth equity rule, provides that 
" every bill shall contain the signature of counsel annexed to it, which 
shall be considered (by the Court) as an affirmation on his part, that upon 
the instructions given to him, and the case laid before him, there is good 
ground for the suit, in the manner in lohich it was framed." 

This law and rule was established to prevent the institution of suit" 
without legal and equitable cause. This being the case, when a bill o^ 
complaint is so endorsed and filed, the Court, when it comes to act in th 
premises, starts off with the idea fixed upon its mind that the defendant 
have committed a wrong act, for which the law is invoked to prevent an< 
put an end to. This one man, an arbitrary power, is bound by his oat] 
of office to protect this plaintiff who has been so endorsed by a counselo 
of his Court; and if the defendants are so unfortunate as to fail to con 
vince this power that the plaintiff and counselor are in the wrong, am 
that they themselves are in the right, the case is a foregone conclusion 
so far as to its consideration by this same Judge. 

The first dash (I cannot think of a better term) made- in said suit wa 
a motion for an injunction ; upon the argument of which the defendants 






49 

through the neglect of their own attorney, were not present. The same 
was granted, and by its terms the defendants were commanded to " abso- 
lutely desist and refrain from using or in any way putting in practice the 
improvement in stoves or invention described in or covered by the seve- 
ral letters patent to Dennis G. Littlefield, bearing elate the 15th day of 
April, 1851, the 24th day of January, 1854, the 25th clay of June, 1861, 
and the 19th day of November, 1861, or either of them." .Thus com- 
manding me not to do what all certified copies of the. bill filed in the 
clerk's office showed clearly that I had a perfect right to do. 

It was supposed for more than three years that on granting this injunc- 
tion the Court did not write an opinion ; but it was finally discovered 
that one was written, and filed at the clerk's office (A. A. Boyce, Esq., of 
Utica, N. Y.) at the same time the order for said injunction was filed; 
though too late to take advantage of it, which might have been done had 
the defendants received a copy of it at the same time they received from 
Utica a copy of the order of the Court that said injunction might issue 
against them. 

It was stated in said opinion that " the bill in this case w T as filed by the 
plaintiff for the infringement of certain patents granted to D. G. Little- 
field, one of the defendants, for improvements in stoves, of which she 
claims the ' exclusive right,' by assignment of the territories of the 
states of New York and Connecticut." 

No such bill as here described was ever filed in this cause at the clerk's 
office, or served upon the defendants, as the records of the Court will 
clearly show. 

It was further stated in said opinion, that t; the answer sets up, as the 
sole grounds of defense, that the letters patent under wmich the plaintiff 
claims title had not been duly assigned to her, or, in the words of the 
answer, had not been legally assigned and transferred to Treadwell & 
Perry, and from Treadwell & Perry, through various parties, to the 
complainant, Mary J. Perry." 

The bill in this cause, filed at the clerk's office, also the copy of the 
same that was served upon the defendants, contains a copy of the agree- 
ment before referred to, of April 5th, 1853 ; and therefore clearly showed 
upon its face that this answer of the defendants, from which the Court 
quoted, was liter cdly true, and that it was a perfect defense against said 
motion. This necessarily appears upon an examination of all certified 
copies of said bill ; and it was to such a copy of it that the defendants 
made said answer. 

• Said opinion further stated, that " the bill sets out various assignments 
deducing a title from the patentee to the ' exclusive right ' to the use of 
the patents for the territories above mentioned to the complainant, and 
duly authenticated copies of the same have been produced on this motion for 
the injunction^ 

A " duly authenticated copy " of an assignment is a paper certified by 



50 

the Commissioner of Patents to be a copy of an assignment, as found 
recorded in the books of assignments of patents, at his office at Wash- 
ington. Said record at Washington will not show that I have ever made 
an assignment of a patent, or of my "exclusive right" under a patent 
for any district or territory to the said Treadwell & Perry. And as I 
have before offered to pay, I will now agree to pay one thousand dol- 
lars to any person who will produce such a " duly authenticated copy" 
of an assignment from me to the said Treadwell & Perry, as the Court 
stated in said opinion was produced upon said motion. 

I am not aware that the acting Judge was under any legal obligations 
to write an opinion at that time ; but if none had been written, the rec- 
ords of the Circuit Court of the United States for this district would not 
have shown why it teas that said injunction was granted. 

Said opinion shows a reason by stating the character of the papers 
required to be produced by a plaintiff, upon making such a motion ; and 
by stating that such papers were then produced. It carefully mentioned 
papers which corresponded with the requirements of the laic, and which 
must be produced upon making such a motion before the Court can legally 
act in the premises. An opinion which the parties, in whose favor it 
was, dare not publish and undertake to show its justification. 

Query. Was the law suspended upon that occasion ? or, were such 
papers actually produced before the Court ? Without their production, as 
must be apparent, said injunction could not have been granted toithout a 
clear violation of law. With their production, as must also be apparent, 
a fraud teas practised, which resulted in giving to a plaintiff a position 
in the United States Court to sue for the infringement of a Letters Patent, 
the legal title to which she did not (as was stated in said opinion) claim to 
own ; which fact was, and is clearly shown by all certified copies of her 
said bill of complaint, forming a part of the record of said cause to be 
found at the clerk's office of said Court. 

This history I cannot pursue any further at the present time. What I 
have written, as strange as it may seem, can be proved by documentary 
evidence ; and though it is probable that this statement will never reach 
all that have read the libelous publications of these " pioneers," nor com- 
pletely counteract the effects produced by their publications, it must, I 
think, convince those who read it that a great wrong has been commit- 
ted, for which some person or persons must be responsible ; and that the 
pretense by this suit that I sold my inventions, and afterward infringed 
a right thus disposed of, is a slander of a very infamous character, fully 
justifying a publication of this statement. 

13. C. LITTLEPIELD. 

Albany, July 25th, 1870. 






THE LITTLEFIELD 



STOVE MANUFACTURING CO. 



ALBANY, N. Y. 



ORGANIZED JULY 25, 1865, UNDER THE LAWS 
OF THE STA TE OF NEW YORK. 



IRA JAGGER and D. G. LITTLEFIELD, 

Sole Proprietors. 

D. G. LITTLEFIELD, 

General Superintendent. 

IRA JAGGER, 

Treasurer. 



THEODORE F. MINER, 



Secretary. 



OFFICE, NO. 47 MONTGOMERY STREET. 


































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